Getting in an accident is bad enough, but what if the other motorist is at fault and doesn’t have insurance coverage to pay the damages? According to the Insurance Research Council, as many as 1 in 8 drivers in the United States are uninsured. Even if an accident was no fault of your own, if it involved a hit-and-run, an uninsured, or underinsured motorist, you could be stuck without the protection you deserve.
Uninsured Motorists: A persistent challenge in spite of state laws
Today, nearly all states require motorists to carry a minimum of automobile insurance. In spite of stricter state laws; however, a high amount of uninsured motorists remain on the road. States such as Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida have alarmingly high percentages of uninsured drivers, and the populous states of California and Texas have 4 million and 2 million uninsured drivers, respectively.
When the at-fault driver is an uninsured motorist, your insurance company will attempt to recoup expenses from that individual. Most individuals do not have the assets to pay the injured party, especially in a collision worse than a minor fender-bender. Without enough uninsured motorist insurance coverage this results in you receiving little to no protection for what could be serious damages and injuries.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Minimum requirements may not cover everything
Even though most states now require motorists to carry auto insurance, in some instances, the bare minimum amount set forth by the law fails to cover the full cost of an accident. If you have high medical bills, missed wages, or extensive vehicle damage, you may not get the full settlement you deserve, leaving you to cover the remaining amount.
Uninsured Motorist Insurance and Underinsured Motorist Insurance Coverage offers a solution.
Check your state’s minimum insurance requirements here.
The Morrissey Law Firm, PC, is located in Springfield, Missouri, and focuses in personal injury and wrongful death trial work. If you need a personal injury or wrongful death attorney, please visit our website or call (417) 887-0529 to schedule a consultation.